Mitigating methylparaben hepatotoxicity: Resveratrol’s role in oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic modulation

Methylparaben (MP) is a widely used preservative in various industrial products, but its accumulation in tissues raises health concerns, including oxidative damage to vital organs like the liver. This study explores MP-induced hepatic injury and evaluates the potential hepatoprotective effects of resveratrol (RES) in a rat model, focusing on biomarkers of liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Rats were administered MP (200 mg/kg) alone or in combination with RES (20 mg/kg) daily for 15 consecutive days (n=8/group). Liver injury was assessed through biochemical analysis of liver function biomarkers (albumin, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase), histopathological examination, and measurement of oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and apoptotic markers.
Exposure to MP led to significant hepatic oxidative stress, as evidenced by dysregulated oxidative and antioxidant markers, increased inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6), elevated apoptotic markers (the associated protein X and Caspase-3), and impaired liver function. This impairment was indicated by decreased serum albumin and total protein levels in the liver, along with elevated serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Histopathology revealed structural liver damage. Co-administration of RES markedly attenuated these effects, restoring oxidative balance, reducing inflammation, apoptosis, and improving liver function and histological architecture.
This study is the first to demonstrate that RES confers protective effects against MP-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic responses, and preserving liver function and tissue integrity. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of RES in mitigating the adverse effects of MP and contribute valuable insights into paraben toxicology and risk assessment.